Reata Park, Friends of the Library Bookstore Open in San Juan OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE
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SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO
JUNE 13-26, 2014 • VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11
CUSD’s Mr. Fix It Leaves the Stage
Superintendent credited with stabilizing district retires this month E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 6 Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Joseph Farley is retiring at the end of the month following four years at the district. He is credited with stabilizing the district following turmoil over the past decade. Photo: Brian Park
5 Residents Inducted into Wall of Recognition, City Approves Roundabout and More EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3
Guest Columnists Examine Water Rate Increase, Preservation and Development SOAPBOX/PAGE 10
www.thecapistranodispatch.com
Eagles’ Discenzo Hurls No-Hitter in CIF Baseball Championship SPORTS/PAGE 22
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EYE ON SJC
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
What’s Up With...
who will assist in organizing the parade; Wednesday Matula to handle the El Presidente Ball and Taste of San Juan events; and Jennifer Darling to manage merchandising and organize Hoos’Gow Day and the Kids Pet Parade. John Fischle was also promoted to sheriff. At the meeting, the board also unanimously added Deborah Valgean, last year’s Ms. Fiesta, to handle hospitality and Lisa McKissack to take over as membership chair.
Five things San Juan should know this week City Council to Consider Downtown Hotel Proposal THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council is set to give final consideration for a proposal to build a 136-room hotel and 33 townhomes in the heart of downtown. In May, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of Urban Village’s San Juan Hotel & Villas project, which also includes 2,700 square feet of commercial space on 3.17 acres, located at Camino Capistrano. Plans also include extending Forster Street all the way through to Del Obispo Street. The commission’s senior members, Sheldon Cohen, Tim Neely and Roy Nunn, struggled with the vote, noting that while the city needed a hotel, massing, parking and the townhomes’ proximity to nearby Historic Town Center Park were a concern. Cohen and Nunn ultimately voted against the project. Last month, Urban Village Principal Joshua Host announced that he had received a commitment from Hilton Worldwide to operate a full-service, four star hotel and that he had signed a contract with a Hilton-recommended developer. Host noted that the townhomes would be branded as “Hilton luxury villas.” WHAT’S NEXT: While the council will consider the same project as the commission, Urban Village Principal Joshua Host said more parking has been added to assuage concerns. Although Host’s initial timeline for the project has been pushed back, if it receives the council’s approval, he hopes to start grading in November and construction in January. The council will vote on the project during a special meeting on Thursday, June 19 at 6 p.m. City Hall is located at 32400 Paseo Adelanto. – Brian Park
5 Names Added to the City’s Wall of Recognition THE LATEST: Five San Juan Capistrano residents will be added to the city’s Wall of Recognition for their services and contributions to the community. The City Council on Tuesday, June 3 apThe Capistrano Dispatch June 13-26, 2014
WHAT’S NEXT: The Fiesta Association is working on launching a new website to handle membership and share information via social media. The group is also working on strengthening relations with the Mission, the Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations, according to Bergstrom. – BP Former Councilwoman Laura Freese, who has been a vocal advocate for the business community since leaving the dais, is one of five residents who will be added to the city’s Wall of Recognition. Photo: Brian Park
proved the nominations of Laura Freese, Shirley and Wayne Howard, Dick Paulsen and Gwen Vermeulen. Freese served on the council from 2008 to 2012. Since departing the dais, she has remained an active participant in civic affairs, including serving on the Economic Preservation Subcommittee, which was formed to mitigate the impact of the Interstate 5/Ortega Highway interchange project on downtown businesses. Shirley and Wayne Howard are lifetime members of the Historical Society. As members of the San Juan Senior Club, they’ve helped to feed the city’s seniors. Paulsen currently serves as vice president of the Open Space Foundation, for which he’s helped fund and build four of the city’s newest open space attractions, the Northwest Open Space and 2C ranch equestrian staging areas, the Dr. Joe Cortese Dog Park and the Reata Park and Event Center. Vermeulen has been the secretary for the Historical Society for over 39 years, and her family’s farming history in San Juan spans 65 years. WHAT’S NEXT: The five inductees will have their names added to the Wall of Recognition during a special ceremony on Thursday, July 17 at 1 p.m. at the Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion. – BP
City Council Approves Roundabout for I-5/Valle Road THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council on Tuesday, June 3 unanimously approved the construction of a roundabout
intersection, where northbound Interstate 5 meets Valle Road and La Novia Avenue. Currently, motorists wait around 59 seconds during afternoon hours at the fourway stop. The roundabout would decrease that time to about 24 seconds, according to a study. Traffic engineers also say the roundabout would force motorists to slow down and could decrease accidents. Councilmembers said although the roundabout would take some getting used to, the benefits outweighed the difficulty of traversing the area and safety concerns. WHAT’S NEXT: Lehman Bros. will pay 37 percent of the project’s $1.6 million cost. The remaining cost will be paid for from the developers of the nearby Distrito La Novia and San Juan Meadows communities. – BP
Fiesta Association Introduces New Board THE LATEST: The Fiesta Association, the all-volunteer group that organizes the Swallows Day Parade, officially introduced its new board during its monthly meeting Wednesday. Following last month’s election, David Faylor takes over as president and will chair the parade. Former president Steve Weekes will serve as first vice president and membership chair and Jim Eaken was elected second vice president. Kim Brusseau was elected secretary and Nancy Ingham was appointed treasurer, after Jeff Schroeder announced last month he would be stepping aside. The new board also includes Eric Bergstrom as publicity chair; Nina Leone
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Edison Planning to Expand Spent Fuel Storage Pads THE LATEST: The majority owner and operator of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is considering tripling the size of its onsite spent nuclear fuel storage capabilities as the plant’s decommissioning process moves forward. The announcement came a week after a wildfire, sparked by a big-rig blaze, shutdown Interstate 5 near the nuclear plant. The fire, some nuclear activists say, is further evidence that Southern California Edison must remove nuclear waste from the plant as soon as possible. At a community engagement panel meeting hosted by Edison Thursday, May 22, Thomas Palmasino, the utility’s chief nuclear officer, said the company could expand its system for storing dry casks, which is considered the safest form of spent-fuel storage. Currently, one-third of spent fuel from the plant’s three reactors is housed in drycask storage. The remainder, more than 2,600 fuel assemblies, is being stored in the plant’s cooling pools. WHAT’S NEXT: Edison is expected to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal body that oversees the nation’s commercial nuclear power sites, with decommissioning cost estimates and reports on fuel management and post-shutdown activities later this year. – Jim Shilander
Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about? ••• Send your suggestions to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. www.thecapistranodispatch.com
EYE ON SJC
Community Meetings
NEWS BITES COMPILED BY BRIAN PARK
Tesla Charging Station Opens in San Juan Tesla car owners can now grab a coffee at Hidden House Coffee or a quick bike at Mission Grill after Tesla Motors opened its newest public charging station in downtown San Juan Capistrano Thursday. The supercharging station includes seven stalls and is located at the Union Bank parking lot, 31971 Camino Capistrano. The station is open 24 hours a day and can charge specially equipped Model S’s in about 30 minutes. Tesla company officials joined city leaders on Wednesday for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Tesla Motors has close to 100 supercharging stations in the country, but its newest in San Juan is the first and only station in Orange County. The next closest station is located in Hawthorne, at the SpaceX company headquarters. In December 2012, Fuji Electric opened a 25kW charging at the Marriott Residence Inn in San Juan.
Chamber’s Annual Installation Dinner to Take Place July 10 The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Installation Dinner and Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 10 at El Adobe de Capistrano Restaurant. The event serves to install the chamber’s new director and board members, as well as honor local residents and businesses that have positively contributed to the city and its business community. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. El Adobe
SATURDAY 6.14
Second Saturday Art and Antique Fair
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 60 artists, craftspeople and musicians exhibit their work in downtown San Juan Capistrano, along Camino Capistrano and Los Rios, Verdugo and Yorba streets. Occurs the second Saturday of each month, from March to December. www.sjcartfair.org. TUESDAY 6.17
City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency Meeting Mayor Sam Allevato and Tesla Motors company executives cut the ribbon for Tesla’s newest supercharging station in San Juan Capistrano. Courtesy of the city of San Juan Capistrano
WEDNESDAY 6.18
is located at 31891 Camino Capistrano. Tickets must be purchased in advance and cost $65 or $600 for a table of ten. The event is typically a sold out affair, and reservations are required by Wednesday, July 10. To reserve a seat or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact the chamber at 949.493.4700, email info@sanjuanchamber.com or visit www.sanjuanchamber.com.
Romance of the Mission Benefit Gala Honors Portolá Riders Mission San Juan Capistrano will honor the fame local riding group El Viaje de Portolá during this year’s Romance of the Mission Benefit Gala.
For more than 50 years, the riders have come together for a three-day horseback trek in the Capistrano Valley. The group has also donated thousands of dollars to the Mission, the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society and other causes. Tony Gregory II, president of the group, will accept the award during the gala on Sept. 12. The gala, which takes place in the ruins of the Great Stone Church, is one of the Mission’s largest fundraising events. Last year, around $220,000 was raised to support the Mission’s preservation efforts. In addition to dinner and dancing, Broadway star David Burnham, known for his role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, is scheduled to perform. For tickets or more information, contact Barb Beier at 949.234.1323 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
Mission Hospital Opens New Playground Opens in Villas Neighborhood Kids in the Villas community in San Juan Capistrano have a new, safe place to get in some physical activity after Mission Hospital opened a new playground in the neighborhood on May 24. Mission Hospital joined with NeighborWorks Orange County and the Villa’s Homeowner Association, as well as local groups like Great Opportunities, to build and fund the playground, which aims to promote physical activity and help combat childhood obesity. The playground is located at 31001 De La Vista Avenue.
Children from the Villas community try out their new neighborhood playground. Courtesy of Mission Hospital
The Capistrano Dispatch June 13-26, 2014
6 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.
Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. Page 4
San Juan Summer Nites
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The first installment of the summer concert series features the country western band River Road. Also includes food, beer and wine, local businesses with information and product tables and fun activities for kids. Free to attend. Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real. For more info, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org or call 949.493.5911.
Rotary Club Meeting
6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Regular meeting includes fellowship and an informative presentation from a guest speaker. Occurs every Wednesday. Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot, 26701 Verdugo Street, Ste. 201. www.sjcrotary.org. FRIDAY 6.20
Coffee Chat
8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues, hosted by The Dispatch founder Jonathan Volzke. Occurs every Friday. All are welcome. Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano. TUESDAY 6.24
Planning Commission Meeting
6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org. WEDNESDAY 6.25
CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting
7 p.m. Capistrano Unified School District Office Board Room, 33122 Valle Road. www.capousd.org. FRIDAY 6.27
Next issue of The Dispatch publishes www.thecapistranodispatch.com
EYE ON SJC
The Steward of Capistrano Unified
take something incredibly complex—you could name it, there’s one every day in the school district—and I’ll have to communicate that to someone.” After his first year, trustees, school administrators and parents praised Farley’s open-door policy and his honesty, even when the news was not always good. Farley challenged educators when he took over, said George Duarte, the former principal at San Clemente High School and current principal at Ladera Ranch Middle School. “He recognized the high performance of the district, but he also said we could do better to meet the needs of all children,” Duarte said.
Superintendent Joseph Farley took a troubled district and set it on a better path BY BRIAN PARK AND JIM SHILANDER, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
W
hen a journalist “buries the lede,” it means he or she fails to quickly get to the crux of a story. For Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Joseph Farley, a former newspaper reporter, writing the story of the district’s recovery from years of turmoil meant opening with a strong lede and acknowledging the problem from the start. “I was absolutely, brutally honest about the flaws and the strengths of the school district,” Farley said of his first days at the head of CUSD in 2010. “My essential message was we’re going to stop all these squabbles, all this political conduct that’s absorbing our time, and we’re going to focus on classroom instruction and on kids.” Four years later, Farley’s deadline has now arrived. As he promised when he was hired, Farley will retire at the end of his contract, June 30. “Everyone knew from the first day I’d only be here for four years, then they would transition into another superintendent who would take the district from some relative tranquility and stability to even greater levels of achievement, which I think will be possible,” Farley said. The school board has had a more difficult time writing a follow-up story—that is, finding Farley’s replacement—than expected. The district planned to name its next superintendent in May, after hiring the national search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, which initially recruited Farley and where he is expected to take on a part-time job. But last month, trustees hired a new consultant, La Quinta-based Leadership Associates—the same firm that recruited Farley’s predecessor, A. Woodrow Carter, who clashed with the board and was fired in 2009, after just two years on the job. Trustee Anna Bryson, who was board president when Farley was unanimously hired, said the board was looking for someone specific to follow Farley. “He has laid a magnificent groundwork that for whoever comes they will be very fortunate because the hardest turning around has been achieved and now it’s full steam ahead,” Bryson said.
The Capistrano Dispatch June 13-26, 2014
Superintendent Joseph Farley is set to retire at the end of June. As an administrator, he is credited with steering the district through a tumultuous political and financial period back to safer, calmer waters. Photo: Brian Park
INTO THE FIRE When Farley was hired in 2010, he became the district’s seventh superintendent in four years. Longtime superintendent James Fleming retired in 2006, but less than a year later, he was indicted for allegedly compiling an “enemies list,” which identified parents who had been critical of the district. Five superintendents followed, including Dennis Smith, who resigned after one month, three interim administrators and Carter. The board fared no better. In 2008, disgruntled parents successfully recalled trustees Sheila Benecke and Marlene Draper and replaced them with Sue Palazzo and Ken Maddox. But in 2010, Maddox and Mike Winsten were recalled and replaced by current Board President John Alpay and Trustee Gary Pritchard. Trustee Lynn Hatton was also elected over incumbent Larry Christensen. That year, before the election, the teachers union also went on a five-day strike over pay cuts. When he came in to interview, Farley said he had to be brought in secretly to avoid picketers. “That was kind of an unusual circumstance,” Farley said. At the time, the job was far from ideal, given the myriad of controversies surrounding the district, as well as the statewide financial crisis that would force the district to cut $150 million from their budget and shorten the school calendar. But for Farley, the job was perfect. MR. FIX IT Farley, who has been an educator for 41 years, developed a reputation as a problem solver. Before coming to CUSD, he spent five years as superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District. Like CUSD, he brought an end to a period of high turnover, which saw three superintendents in as many years.
Public confidence in Anaheim Union was low, and just over a week after Farley started, the Orange County Grand Jury began an investigation into the district’s management of a multi-million dollar construction bond. A year later, the Grand Jury praised Farley’s work in handling the situation and said it was a model for other districts. Bryson said Farley’s reputation as a problem solver was a definite factor in his hiring, which she called, “one of the proudest things I’ve ever done.” “He had confronted problems that were very severe in his prior district, and with calm intellect and consistent strength of administrative oversight, he righted that ship,” Bryson said. Alpay said early on in his dealings with Farley as a trustee, he understood the focus would be on the classroom. “It became very clear to me that he was trying to reassert control,” Alpay said. “It was really a ‘Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead,’ kind of thing.” That attitude was key, Alpay said, to reestablishing a sense of district stability, reminding board members of their responsibilities to students. Alpay said that had carried over to the relations between the board members themselves. “We don’t agree on everything, we’re seven people with seven different opinions,” Alpay said. “But I can say wholeheartedly that we’re all unified in our objective to provide our children with a quality education. I think we’ve all learned to be respectful and get along with each other because we’ve understood our interests are aligned.” Farley said, as a journalist, he enjoyed taking complicated issues and explain them as simply as possible. He applied those skills as a school administrator. “I have to teach something. I have to do it briefly and succinctly with the fewest words possible,” Farley said. “I’ll
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FUTURE ISSUES COME INTO FOCUS Having restored a full school year, Farley said the district was on surer footing financially going forward. The greatest challenge, however, that will likely confront Farley’s successor is having to deal with the aging facilities found throughout the district. During the height of its fiscal crisis, the district was forced to raid its deferred maintenance reserves, meaning issues at some schools have not yet been addressed. “It’s not just old campuses. It’s new or relatively new campuses that also have needs that when you total them up represent an awful lot of money,” Farley said. He also noted that the district is not growing evenly. Some schools, such as Marblehead Elementary in San Clemente and parts of Dana Point, have seen declining enrollment in recent years. The district must also prepare to house Rancho Mission Viejo students and is already planning for a K-8 school there. “The trouble is that the growth isn’t where we have the decline,” Farley said. Solutions could be found, but they would take time, Alpay said. The district also faces attendance boundary issues and must work to unravel its community facilities districts, especially dealing with population pressures at San Juan Hills High School. Farley said the district needs to find a way, over the course of several years, to fund the modernization of some of its facilities. The district currently has 10 MelloRoos CFDs, which have restrictions about using funds for maintenance of existing buildings. Solutions might include creating a district-wide facilities bond or one specific to certain areas, after paying existing CFDs. The board, while aware of the issue, has not yet formally discussed the solution, which would require public input. “We didn’t get here overnight and it’s going to take a couple of years to get back out,” Alpay said. But despite future challenges, Alpay said Farley has lived up to his reputation as a fixer. “We’re a great school district,” Alpay said. “We had self-inflicted wounds and he came along and made a very good school district again. Because of him, we’re in a position to become an incredible school district.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com
EYE ON SJC
SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY SEAN ROBB
All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.
Thursday, June 5 BURGLARY REPORT Via Buena Vista, 28800 Block (1:48 p.m.) A homeowner, calling from another part of their home, said their garage was being burglarized. PATROL CHECK Calle San Francisco, 26500 Block (10:09 a.m.) A woman said she had left her home 20 minutes ago and saw her garage opening up. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Rancho Viejo Road, 31600 Block (5:23 a.m.) A subject was reportedly going around and knocking on doors at the Seasons Senior Apartment community.
Wednesday, June 4 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Paseo Adelanto, 31700 Block (8:09 p.m.) Four drunken subjects were being loud and drinking behind an adobe. DISTURBANCE Calle San Luis, 26500 Block (7:44 p.m.) A woman called and said her friend had pulled her hair. INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN Via Carlos, 32100 Block (7:24 p.m.) A man was seen lying on the sidewalk in front of the caller’s residence. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Alipaz Street/Calle Jardin (4:54 p.m.) Subjects were seen spray painting a trailer along the riverbed near Mission Bell Park. DRUNK IN PUBLIC Stonehill Drive/Camino Capistrano (4:33 p.m.) A drunken older man, who was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, was seen walking in the street toward Camino Capistrano. SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Los Rios Street, 31300 Block (11:24 a.m.) A man was seen passed out in the driver’s seat of his car with loud music playing. The caller said the man appeared to be asleep. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE El Camino Real, 31500 Block (10:48 a.m.) Page 7
A 47-year-old contractor was arrested following a phone call from the office at Bridges Community Day High School. He was held at Central Men’s Jail and released Saturday, May 7. DISTURBANCE Verdugo Street, 26700 Block (10:29 a.m.) A homeless man was seen sleeping next to the train tracks at the train depot. The caller suspected that the man had set up a camp at the end of Verdugo Street. DISTURBANCE La Zanja Street/Los Rios Street (9:45 a.m.) A pedestrian on La Zanja Street was “insulted” by a subject smoking marijuana. UNKNOWN TROUBLE Camino Capistrano, 32200 Block (4:22 a.m.) A man was heard repeatedly screaming for help in the alley behind Wells Fargo. The man, who deputies suspected was a local transient, had apparently fallen.
Tuesday, May 3 PETTY THEFT REPORT Junipero Serra Road, 26500 Block (11:06 p.m.) An underage heavyset man took beer and ran out of a store without paying. SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Del Obispo Street, 31800 Block (3:52 p.m.) A business owner was told by a customer that an unoccupied silver Toyota Camry had been in the parking lot for two hours with its engine running. DISTURBANCE Los Rios Street, 31400 Block (1:53 p.m.) A woman was outside of her home, yelling and screaming. The caller said she was “having a meltdown.” This was the second response to the scene. Earlier, the woman had stepped outside and began screaming and throwing rocks.
Monday, May 2 CITIZEN ASSIST Rancho Viejo Road, 30800 Block (11:48 p.m.) Authorities assisted a caller who had driven into the Marbella Center and was trapped inside because the gate had been locked after they arrived.
Saturday, May 31 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Verdugo Street, 26700 Block (9:27 p.m.) A 37-year-old man was arrested after he was seen looking into vehicles parked at the structure near the train depot. The man is currently being held at Musick Facility.
Friday, May 30 FIREWORK VIOLATION Camino Capistrano/Junipero Serra Road (4:30 p.m.) A caller said two men were setting off “rockets” near a small motorhome. www.thecapistranodispatch.com
EYE ON SJC
HOW DID SAN JUAN VOTE?
Results are in: November Races Take Shape Dana Point councilmembers advance to general election runoffs BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS AND JIM SHILANDER, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
S
outh Orange County voters joined Californians at the polls Tuesday, June 3 for the state’s primary elections. Two candidates from Dana Point advanced to the November general election by finishing second in their races. Since the primary ballot is non-partisan, the top two vote getters advance to a runoff in the general election in most cases. With all precincts reporting to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, Dana Point Mayor Lisa Bartlett finished second in her race with three rivals for the 5th District seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Laguna Niguel City Councilman Robert Ming won the race by 328 votes—15,341 to Bartlett’s 15,013—potentially setting up a closely contested race in the fall. Mission Viejo City Councilman Frank Ury finished with 12,294 votes and Deputy District Attorney Joe Williams with 9,291. The 5th District seat is being vacated by Pat Bates, who is term-limited and ran unopposed for the state Senate’s 36th District that encompasses parts of Orange and San Diego counties. In the race for the 73rd Assembly
District, constitutional lawyer and Irvine Valley College professor Wendy Gabriella, a Democrat, led all candidates, with 28.5 percent of the vote. However, the seat is considered a safe one for Republicans. Dana Point City Councilman Bill Brough led among the four Republicans with 27.6 percent or 11,818 votes. Rancho Santa Margarita City Councilman Jesse Petrilla had 19.1 percent. Former Laguna Niguel City Councilman Paul Glabb, who dropped out of the race, actually had more votes than the candidate he endorsed, Capistrano Unified School District trustee Anna Bryson, 5,969 to 4,663, respectively. Another CUSD board member, Gary Pritchard of Mission Viejo, finished third in the race for County Clerk-Recorder, with 12.3 percent of the vote. Incumbent Hugh Nguyen handedly took the race with 60.3 percent of the votes, with Monica Maddox trailing with 19.1 percent. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, a Republican who currently holds the 73rd Assembly seat, led her race for the state’s Board of Equalization District 4 race early, but ended with the second highest vote count, 245,601 to Democrat Nader Shahatit’s 248,088, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
On the State- and District-wide Ballots San Clemente resident Joe Leicht was 14th of 15 candidates in the race for California governor, receiving 7,005 votes, for 0.2 percent of the vote. Incumbent Gov. Edmund “Jerry” Brown, Democrat, received 54.4 percent of vote statewide, with Neel Kashkari ahead among Republicans with 19.1 percent. Rep. Darrell Issa topped two challengers in the 49th Congressional District, with 61.4 percent of the vote. Issa currently represents portions of northern San Diego and southern Orange counties and will see Democrat Dave Peiser in the November election. Peiser finished with 28.7 percent of the vote. In commanding numbers, voters statewide favored California’s Proposition 41 that would authorize the redirecting of $600 million in bond money to fund housing for low-income and homeless veterans, with 65.4 percent, or more than 1.9 million votes. Proposition 42, a proposed constitutional amendment that requires local governing bodies to comply with state public records and opening meeting laws, was also favored by California voters, receiving 61.5 percent of the vote. The proposition
Of San Juan Capistrano’s 17,163 registered voters, 5,118, or 29.1 percent, cast their ballots.Below are the top two vote getters in select races. See how San Juan residents voted, compared to the county. Actual top vote getters are listed in bold. The figures are courtesy of the Orange County Registrar of Voters. GOVERNOR
Neel Kashkari (1,992), Jerry Brown (1,567) STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, 4th DISTRICT
Diane L. Harkey (2,444), Nader Shahatit (1,093)
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, 49th DISTRICT
Darrell Issa (3,449), Dave Peiser (993) STATE ASSEMBLY, 73rd DISTRICT
Bill Brough (1,474), Wendy Gabriella (1,267) ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR, 5th DISTRICT
Robert Ming (1,427), Lisa Bartlett (1,330) ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Tony Rackauckas (3,129), Greg Diamond (1,202)
will make municipalities and other bodies financially responsible for coming into compliance with the state laws. Countywide, Measure A, which would require Orange County’s 12 elected officials, including the five supervisors, to contribute to their pensions, received wide support, with 87.5 percent of the vote. CD
SOAPBOX
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor
What Does it Really Mean to be Green? Take the lead from grandma’s book, be aware and live simply
I
n this age of protecting our health, preserving the environment and conserving resources, the word sustainability comes to mind. So what does it actually mean and how can these sustainable practices help you, your family and make a difference in the community? Simply put: It’s the concept of living within our limits, understanding the interconnections among economies, society and the environment and providing equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Still confusing? Think grandma pre-20th century. Our grandmothers and society before them lived sustainably and naturally. Past generations knew how to stretch a dollar, plan the day, the week, the month and the year ahead, made meals from scratch, stitched socks, gardened, harvested crops, canned food, made household products, ate well, slept well and didn’t need medicines to get up or go to sleep. The daily demands of life exercised them, moved them and connected them to the community and the land. They knew what it took to survive and used what was needed. Waste not want not was their
motto. They lived simply to simply live. We could all learn a lot from our grandmother’s generation about environmentally friendly green living. Where do you begin? You can start DIRT THERAPY today using these tips. Marianne Taylor Hang your laundry out to dry. The smell of fresh clothes is fabulous, the sun bleaches the whites and the practice saves on electricity. Can seasonal foods. It was a necessity back in the day. Canning today supports local organic farmers and gives you highquality food all year round with essential vitamins and without pesticides. You can reuse the glass jars as water glasses too. Use basic ingredients for cleaning. My mother’s favorite remedy utilized baking soda and vinegar for everyday cleaning— no nasty chemicals or gasses. Learn to sew. Clothes today are so inexpensive, but what about sewing a loose button, patching a hole in your favorite jeans or shortening and letting out hems? Reduce food waste. Grandma knew
exactly what was in her fridge. She used everything from peelings to bones to make a soup stock. Grow your own food. Use a container or create a raised bed. You don’t need much space, just time to watch your garden grow. Use dishtowels and rags. Reduce household waste and cut down on paper towels. Use newspaper to soak up and dispose of bacon grease. Collect rainwater. Even though we’ve had very little rain these past few years, prepare for next season with a rain barrel at the end of the eaves trough and use it to water plants. Resist the urge to upgrade and update. My mom always had the same ol’ stuff. She was a living proof that she didn’t need to impress guests. Marianne Taylor is a 24-year resident of San Juan Capistrano, in the Los Rios Historic District. She is the executive director and “dirt therapist” for Goin Native. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, email us at editor@capistranodispatch.com
GUEST OPINION: By Laura Freese, former San Juan Capistrano City Councilwoman
San Juan’s Historic Brand Needs to be Protected
As it stands, the proposed retail development deviates from the vision for downtown
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hat is your vision of San Juan Capistrano’s downtown? What do you want downtown San Juan Capistrano to be? Is your vision an array of assorted strip malls or a charming oasis in the midst of master-built modern Orange County? I picture a place where travelers are awed as soon as they turn off the interstate by the ambience of our heritage as reflected by a historic looking downtown. Once upon a time, Camino Capistrano was a real main street. Then it was changed into a pseudo-highway when the state made it part of Highway 101. It lost the welcoming impact that a main street conveys. Ortega Highway was also a main street, called “Broadway.” It became part of State Highway 74 and lost its warmth too. A couple of years ago, the City Council voted to adopt a plan to bring back the main streets and protect the heritage of our downtown. Now they are in jeopardy of being lost—again. I am referring to the proposed development at the corner of Ortega and El The Capistrano Dispatch June 13-26, 2014
Camino Real. That area, just off the all asphalt and concrete interstate, should reflect old San Juan with warmth, small shops that open to the street, highly walkable architecture, trees and flowers. The proposed plan has none of that: Businesses face inward and are designed to be driven to and away from. It is fine for the suburbs but does not fit downtown San Juan Capistrano. There are enormous benefits to keeping downtown a historic haven. The most obvious ones are the continuation of our heritage, the protection of Mission San Juan Capistrano and the branded friendly look of the city. But the harsh reality of allowing a misdirected, massive concrete and asphalt development that does not meet our city standards to get approved at this sensitive area is the possible devastation of the downtown’s existing businesses, as well as destroying the look of the city’s entrance for the next 100 years. As Bill Ramsey, San Juan’s retired Assistant Development Services Director and cultural heritage expert, said, “The Walnut Grove site is
the gateway to the historic downtown and needs to be treated in a manner much more befitting that role.” The council is trying to do the right thing but the error lies in their misconception that being “business friendly” means opening the flood gates to out-of-place developments in ill-chosen locations. Only Councilman Larry Kramer understands that. To all lovers of San Juan Capistrano, don’t be fooled by fancy drawings. Carefully judge any proposal for this significant downtown area. We cannot afford to approve a mistake. Laura Freese is a local business owner and 36-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. She currently serves as chair of the Economic Preservation Committee and previously served one term on the City Council. In 2014, she was added to the city’s Wall of Recognition. CD
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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 11, Issue 11. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch ) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, email us at editor@capistranodispatch.com
Page 10
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SOAPBOX
Letters to the Editor WE NEED ANSWERS ABOUT VERMEULEN PROJECT —Diane Holmes, San Juan Capistrano In her letter (“Something Amiss with Vermeulen Project,” May 23-June 5), Pam Zamoscianyk brought to light two projects in San Juan that seem to be moving forward without proper community notifications. Pam asked a lot of very good questions. How do we go about getting the answers? Would it be possible for The Dispatch to get Brian Park on the trail of some answers? Would The Dispatch make these two projects part of their “What’s Up With” page? Pam’s letter was succinct and well researched and voiced many of the same concerns that I have. I am very grateful to her for putting all of these facts together and presenting them to the community. Now we need to get some answers. Dispatch, are you up to the challenge?
HISTORICAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEE TAKES A STAND AGAINST SHOPS AT CAPISTRANO —Jerry Nieblas, president, and Janice Pickartz, vice president/secretary, Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee is announcing their position on the proposed “Shops at Capistrano.” Also, while the Planning Commission has already approved the $43 million hotel and townhome project, the committee is extremely disappointed by their decision. We, as the board of directors, must call attention to the lack of focus on the historical impact the Shops will have on this town. Most of us know that the Mission was the first establishment in what was to become San Juan Capistrano. At 17 years old, Jerry Nieblas said the Mission was the “birthplace of Orange County,” giving it this title. From the beginnings of the Great Stone Church in 1796 to now, those walls are and always have been a place of living history, thriving culture and prayerful worship. Historical families were raised to serve and protect the Mission, treating it as their second home. The grandeur of this most sacred ruin was such that it was once the tallest building in San Juan Capistrano. From any vantage point—driving, walking or on horseback—it is a special place of spiritual and historical significance that welcomed visitors to town. Back then or today, if you can see those walls, you are in the very heart and soul of San Juan Capistrano. The land where the shops are planned is sacred and rich with history that will become extinct if it’s not handled with care. That land certainly deserves better than to be cheapened and violated by what some are calling a “strip mall.” Ask a visitor why they are here, and 80 The Capistrano Dispatch June 13–26, 2014
In letters to the editor, residents have raised concerns about a proposal to build a 415-unit senior living community at the Vermeulen Ranch Center, currently home to Armstrong Garden Center. Moving forward with the project would require a zone change and public hearings. Last month, Farm to Market, also located at the site, closed. Photo: Andrea Swayne
percent of the time, their response is to “step back in time” and experience our history. Whatever their faith, they have come to see the Mission. History is first, shopping is secondary. We ask our community leaders, historians, activists and residents to take a good hard look around town. How many commercial vacancies can you count? Adding more retail space makes no sense. Someone in favor of the shops used to support the history when it was needed for their benefit. Now they’re pro-development at any cost. The shops are another tragic example of our history getting buried underneath the almighty dollar. And let’s not forget the developers who pick and choose whenever history gets in their way how to make it disappear. The end result will be irreparably damaging and changing not only the Mission and San Juan Capistrano but Orange County as well because the story started here. It is an honor and a privilege to live in San Juan Capistrano. It is a matter of the heart. The Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee will always take a stand to protect all the local history of San Juan Capistrano. Don’t just look at the almighty dollar. Really look at San Juan Capistrano. Incorporate development to always complement our history so we can “preserve the past to enhance the future.” Page 12
The Mission will outlive and survive all of us. Over 200 years later, it still stands tall and proud because of all the contributions of many, especially the historical families. Protecting the history is expected, anything less is unacceptable. The Mission should live on not surrounded by retail shops and strip malls but clearly visible, forever representing our community and the heart of San Juan Capistrano.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY IN HISTORIC SAN JUAN? —Select Board Members, Mission Preservation Foundation We are writing this letter to invite the business leaders and members of our village-like community to consider what it means when we as a community approach new projects with a mindset of saying, “We need to be pro-business.” Years ago, being “pro-business” in San Juan Capistrano was focused on providing financial or human support through obtaining advertising; focusing on retention efforts and identifying constraints to business success that needed to be removed; securing public funding for capital projects that would improve the comfort of the downtown; adopting historic preservation easements to protect the look and feel of the Mission; and working to adopt Mills Act status for properties to reduce historic
properties’ tax burdens so they stayed historic were among our priorities. The community focused on resolving public safety issues and worked toward helping to maintain the unique balance of the delicate Los Rios Historic District as both a residential and commercial area by creating commissions that met regularly to exercise deliberation and communication over what could be allowed to happen in the name of commerce in that special area. “Business friendliness” meant helping the downtown get more parking or improve the signage rules. The city adopted ordinances to allow outdoor dining areas to provide more activity on the streetscape. We worked to get downtown lighting, public parks installed, American flags installed and tried to visually knit together the best visual elements and traditions that could comprise a quaint downtown. Despite all this “business friendliness,” there was always a shared concern for improving and protecting the aesthetics while also enhancing the operational aspects of the area. Respecting the scale and intimacy of a historic downtown was debated and discussed with regular vigor. Having a sense of saving or protecting the core area’s look and feel was integral to most people’s feelings about enacting progress. In a post-recession world, we stand at an important intersection of opportunity and consequences without decision making. It is clear to us that the best asset San Juan Capistrano has in the marketplace is its unique brand of “being historic.” People discover, shop and dine in the Mission business district because it has a world famous mission. If there were no mission, what would happen? As we consider these projects, and whatever it means to be business friendly, perhaps we need to really ask ourselves when new and significant projects proposed: Are there new directional signs about the area? Are there public amenities serving guests? Is the project supporting the “feel and look” of the area? Is it helping to market the other businesses, or promising to do business with the others? Ask ourselves collectively, is the new proposal just going to take business away from already struggling businesses or is it going to reorient the core delivering more traffic, congestion and a barrier to discovering the historic core of the area? How can the project reinforce our brand versus undermine it, if it indeed has to go forward? How high are the buildings? Are we protecting cultural resources? Summarily, taking a “pro-business” position should involve a discussion on how any new and significant development helps our Mission business district community. (Cont. on page 14) www.thecapistranodispatch.com
SOAPBOX Letters to the Editor (Cont. from page 12) We need not be sorry for developers and we need not be “wishy-washy” by sending them mixed signals. In fairness, to be business-friendly, we need to tell them what we expect and want so they can incorporate those items in their plans early on. We tried doing this through a master plan process and perhaps that document needs to be reconsidered for its relevance today. We are offering these comments out of a sense to be constructive and supportive to development in the area and to help in doing the right thing for the long run of our historic community—not to take on a fight or be difficult but to remind everyone that what we allow today, will be here for future generations of residents, businesses and visitors. Sincerely, Mechelle Lawrence Adams, on behalf of Mission Preservation Foundation President George O’Connell, Founding President Tony Moiso and board members Bill Cvengros, Paul Mikos, Madeline Swinden and EJ Tracy. EDITOR’S NOTE: Gretchen Stroscher Thomson, the landowner and applicant behind The Shops at Capistrano, is also a member of the Mission Preservation Foundation’s board. Her name, however, was not included in the letter.
TIERED WATER RATES BASED ON GREED —Jack Chestek, San Juan Capistrano This is my protest to a cost increase in my water rate and service. First, this notice could be hard proof for a lawsuit. I’ll explain. City Hall records show Groundwater Recovery Plant costs have been reported at: $3,000 per acre foot in 2011; $1,342.51 in May 2012; $1,093 in October 2012; $1,250 in January 2014; and $588.18 in March 2014. Based on the above numbers, the capital cost of $2,941,002 per year to run the GWRP has somehow gone bye-bye. Over the past four years, residents have paid $11.6 million for a water cost factor that City Hall doesn’t need any longer or is hiding. This doesn’t make sense. Second, the new water rates don’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense to charge more for poop water—a.k.a. non-potable or recycled water—than drinking water. Rather than charge HOA’s $3.41 per unit to water their grass with drinking water from Lake Mead, City Hall plans on charging HOA’s more like $3.53 per unit for local poop water. Guess who makes out money wise? I believed 10 hundred cubic feet (ccf) of water cost me $36.04 today. After July 1, the same amount of water at the new proposed prate should cost $35.44. Wow, this is a 60-cent savings (Note: My guess
is this amount of cost reduction is now what Judge Gregory Munoz had in mind when he ruled our City Hall has to cut its water rates.) The same 10 ccf of water I have to pay today only costs $13.80 in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, parts of Dana Point and Mission Viejo. Our City Hall has been charging residents the most severe drought rates the state asks for over the past four years. Now, City Hall is proposing to relax its restraints from 6 ccf to 9 ccf per month. This doesn’t make sense. The state is experiencing its worst drought ever this year. This is just one of many overcharges City Hall needs to repay over the past four years. Oh yeah, I believe the proposed monthly service charge of $30.74 for a 1-inch meter far exceeds any other agency in Orange County. Mission Viejo residents pay $7.77 for the same service. Third, the new tiered rates don’t make sense. All of this town’s water comes from reservoirs. Seventy percent of our water storage comes from two reservoirs. City Hall has no way to supply these two reservoirs with GWRP water. So it’s dumb to say everyone’s tier-one rate is based on cheap GWRP water when it can only be distributed to 30 percent of the town. In summary, during the past four years, City Hall has overcharged residents a
fixed $11.6 million plus millions in varying excessive water rates. The term volumetric is meaningless as used in this notice. City Hall has absolutely no way or means of measuring water used on residential landscape, which gets its GWRP water, which gets water from the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County and how much of the two water sources they get or use. As a past city water commissioner for six years, I’ve concluded City Hall’s only justification for tiered rates is greed. One day, tier four water costs $11.67 and the next day it costs $5.15. This greed breeds corruption. Is City Hall hiding $2.9 million in GWRP capital costs per year and why? In my view, City Hall has to stop screwing residents with tiered rates. Stop promoting the GWRP as a fix for earthquakes and droughts because its days are numbered until our aquifer is depleted of free water. Turn our water service over to Moulton Niguel, which knows how to manage water, and get out of the political greed business. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@thecapistranodispatch.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.
SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Roy Byrnes
Faulty Rate Study Victimizes the Public The City Council should reject the “water rate” study
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n June 17 our City Council will consider a proposal to again raise the costs of water. I urged the council to reject it. Big mistake. I can assure you that the rate study we have just received does not come close to meeting the standards of adequacy. A valid rate study should include a serious evaluation of all costs: product (in our case, water), personnel, distribution and operational costs. Indeed, cost containment, including strategies for cost reduction, should be the starting point of any legitimate rate study. Amazingly, the rate study we’ve been given totally ignores cost cutting or even cost containment. It’s merely a shopping list of spending projects that we’re expected to blindly approve. In a legitimate rate-structure analysis, the last thing one considers doing is raising prices. The new city rate structure starts with unsubstantiated revenue increases. This is unacceptable. We have just finished a five-year series of water
price increases totaling 49 percent. Now we are being asked to approve yet another five years of revenue increases totaling 30-plus percent. Many of our residents have suffered through the worst recession in decades and have seen their incomes diminish with zero increase in salary and retirement checks. Yet, we are now considering increasing the cost of water far beyond the rate of inflation or consumer price index. We must not do this. We must find better ways to do the job at less cost. About Proposition 218: California law mandates that our city must not be seen to be profiting or marking up its charges. This simple injunction has spawned a complex, legal structure that has a life and form of its own. That’s why the city hired a specialized firm for this rate study. I did not support that move because I knew that it was just a bureaucratic excuse for jacking up fees. After innumerable meetings and shelling out over $140,000, I am proven to be correct. What we have is a
complicated bureaucratic document designed to satisfy the arcane, legalistic requirements of some future Proposition 218 trial. The “rate study” we’re being asked to approve Roy Byrnes is actually a traditional governmental bureaucratic “supermarket maneuver.” Here’s how it works: Go on a shopping spree at Trader Joe’s. Pull off the shelf anything that looks good—French champagne, sirloin steak, Russian caviar, etc. Never mind cost because when you get to the checkout cashier, the citizen ratepayer will be forced to pay. He has no choice since he must purchase water from us. This approach satisfies Proposition 218, which only cares that we produce evidence that we actually spent “X” millions. I reject this approach. It’s time to get back to common sense business fundamentals. But wait a minute. We’re being asked
to increase revenue 5 percent per year for five years in order to “create a surplus?” I disagree. In my view, a legitimate surplus is the result of efficient management in which operating costs are controlled and income exceeds costs. Reaching into the public’s pocket and just pulling out more money because 50 percent reserve sounds good is not prudent management. Years ago, this was called “voodoo economics.” It victimizes the public. I see my job on this council as to be a reasonable advocate for the customer. Therefore, I cannot support this faulty rate study. Roy L. Byrnes, M.D. is a 55-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. He was elected to the City Council December 2012. Byrnes previously served on the council from 1972 to 1976, including two years as mayor. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@the capistranodispatch.com
GUEST OPINION: San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve
It is Time to Put the Golden Calf out to Pasture Water rate increase relies on unreliable Groundwater Recovery Plant
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great deal of discussion has ensued regarding the upcoming water rate increase. I have never raised fees or taxes while in office, nor will I. On the other hand, the council majority of Mayor Sam Allevato and Councilmen Larry Kramer and John Taylor too often have. They now advocate approval of another illegal system of tiered water rates, amounting to a more than 30 percent rate increase. Alternatively, Councilman Roy Byrnes and I believe the current water system is too expensive for a city our size. We urge the city to remove itself from the water production business. In its attempt to sell you the golden calf that is their Groundwater Recovery Plant, the city and council majority have played fast and loose with the facts. In taxpayer-funded mailers, the city absurdly asserted the GWRP is drought proof; provided graphs that contradict the city’s own statistics regarding water production; falsely assert the GWRP is reliable (it has never met production goals); and, in a recent communication, that water bills would decrease under the new system. This is patently false. You cannot raise rates more than 30 percent and expect your bill to go down.
The Capistrano Dispatch June 13–26, 2014
While everyone talks of rates, the real focus should be the high cost of the entire GWRP operation. It is so expensive that the proposed rate increase is actually not enough to cover operatDerek Reeve ing expenses. The city’s own consultant acknowledged the proposed rate increase does not even reach the reserve level recommended. The rate increase relies on GWRP production estimates provided by the city that are tenuous at best. The rates are dependent on an imaginary and inflated level of production. When less production is in fact realized, there will be higher net costs and thus deficit. Furthermore, when the higher tiers have the desired effect of further reducing consumption, the city will experience lower demand and thus lower revenue. This too will add to the deficit, as it has in the past. With lower production and lower demand, a future council will be forced to raise rates again in less than five years. So the vicious cycle will continue. The council majority refuses to acknowledge—let alone address—this cost dilemma. They fall back to the illusionary Page 15
argument that the GWRP production is cheaper than imported water. They purposely fail to include into the city’s water operations the true cost of labor, debt, supplies, electricity, overhead, grant writing, etc. Instead of acknowledging basic economic principles, the council majority continues to recklessly create deficits through an illegal tiered structure. The most significant problem, however, is a matter of geology. The San Juan Basin Authority confirmed the basin is not being recharged, i.e., water is being pumped out of the basin faster than it is replaced. The council majority’s solution is to stick their heads in the sand and vote to pump water out of the basin even faster. Due to their mismanagement, the water table will disappear and be replaced by sea water. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. The only real solution is to spend in excess of $100 million in capital costs with over $2 million in annual maintenance costs, or stop pumping so much water. The former is prohibitive and the latter would require the majority to admit error of judgment. And neither cost is included in the proposed new water rates. I believe that at the direction of the council majority, the city knows that a
realistic reckoning of costs will require even higher rates. Consequently, they ask everyone to suspend disbelief and trust them. Please do not. Not only are the proposed rates economically infeasible, they do not comply with the legal requirement any more than the current rates and they grossly understate the true cost of staying on our current path. The council majority foolishly pledge their oath and your hard earned money to the golden calf that is their GWRP. Do not surrender. Do not retreat. Together, we can fight City Hall. Derek Reeve has been a resident of San Juan Capistrano since 1998 and has served on the City Council since 2010. He is a husband and father of two children who currently attend school in San Juan Capistrano. Professionally, Reeve is an attorney who has been a member of the California State Bar Association since 1996. He is a constitutional scholar and graduate of the University of Southern California, as well as Claremont Graduate University. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@the capistranodispatch.com
www.thecapistranodispatch.com
GETTING OUT
On Stage at the Coach House: Spencer Day
YOUR EVENT PLANNER
The List
What’s going on in and around town COMPILED BY STAFF
SECOND STAGE STAND-UP 7:30 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse hosts a lineup of four comedians. Admission $15. To purchase, call 949.489.8082 or visit www.comedyintheoc.com. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.
Friday | 13
Sunday | 15
FINE ART SHOW 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Explore the area’s talent through this art show sponsored by the Dana Point Fine Arts Association, where student paintings, ceramics, photographs and multimedia designs will be on display. Dana Hills High School, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, www.danapointfinearts.org.
FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH SAIL 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate dad with brunch aboard the Ocean Institute’s tall ship Spirit of Dana Point. Steer the ship, raise the sails and watch the crew fire the cannon. $45 for adults, $35 for children. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.
MOVIE IN THE PARK: DESPICABLE ME 2 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Pack lawn chairs, blankets and snacks as Steve Carrell voicing the reformed villain Gru, his beloved minions and three adopted daughters provide the night’s entertainment. Free popcorn. Refreshments available for purchase. Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530, www.danapoint.org.
Saturday | 14 MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Live mariachi music performed by Capistrano Community Mariachi Program in the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy. For more info, call 949.234.1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.
D
escribed as an artistic vagabond, Spencer Day is making a stop at the Coach House on Sunday, June 22 to showcase his newly released album Daybreak. Born in Utah, Day moved to Arizona before eventually deciding to pursue music in San Francisco. This subsequently led to his move across the country to the New York music scene. Day truly lives up to his musical vagabond image. Picking up musical styles everywhere he went, Day’s nomadic tendencies really show through his music. “I wanted to create a musical hybrid,” Day said in his artist bio, and he did just that. Pulling together several genres—including big band, jazz and a touch of pop—Day refuses to be pigeonholed while simultaneously appealing to listeners across the music spectrum.
Monday | 16 FAMILY STORYTIME 7 p.m.-8 p.m. The National Charity League Sunshine Readers lead kids through storytime at the San Juan Capistrano Library. Kids are invited to come wearing their pajamas. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.
KID’S PICK
Tuesday | 17 MODJESKA HOUSE TOUR 10 a.m.-noon. A docent-led tour of the historic house of actress Helena Modjeska. $5. Reservations required. 2515 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, 949.923.2230 or visit www.ocparks.com/modjeskahouse.
LOCAL LUNCH 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The SJC Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking lunch at Sundried Tomato Café. Guests buy their own lunch. 31781 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. To RSVP, email claire@sanjuanchamber.com or call 949.493.4700. www.sanjuanchamber.com.
Wednesday | 18
EDITOR’S PICK
DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Fresh flowers, produce and specialty foods in downtown San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street. Occurs every Wednesday. www.farmersmarketsjc.com.
Thursday | 19 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Help clean and maintain San Juan Capistrano’s Los Rios Park with fellow green thumbs. Meets every Thursday, except rain days and holidays, in front of the Montanez Adobe. Bring gloves, clippers and an apron. Must be 18 or older. Sign the volunteer form at www.goinnative.net.
Attendees of last year’s Dana Point Food, Wine & Music Festival enjoyed complimentary sushi from Mahé. Photo: Andrea Papagianis
FOOD, WINE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL • JUNE 21 Noon-7 p.m. Spend the day in Dana Point sampling regional food and wine. Event includes art exhibitions, cigar bar, kids’ zones, live music, and the Great Southern California Beer Festival with more than 100 beers. Free shuttle service available from Dana Hills High School. Sea Terrace Community Park, Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road, Dana Point, www.foodwineandmusicfestival.com. The Capistrano Dispatch June 13–26, 2014
YAPPY HOUR 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Follow Fido to happy hour at The Ritz-Carlton. Four-legged friends can enjoy complimentary biscuits while lapping up beef and bacon flavored water. Their human counterparts can purchase burgers, brews and wine. Funds raised will help support Canine Companions for Independence. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, www.ritz-carlton.com.
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Courtesy photo
Day received national attention with his debut album Vagabond, and his performance credits include the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Great American Music Hall and the Herbst Theater. Day’s resume, and fan following, grew even stronger after opening for Rufus Wainwright at the Napa Valley Opera House. See Spencer Day at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, on June 22. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. Dinner reservations are also available. For tickets and a full schedule of upcoming shows, visit the Coach House online at www.thecoachhouse.com or call 949.496.8930.—Victor Carno
Friday | 20 R.H. DANA BEACH BASH 2:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Fun for the whole family at this end-of-the-year carnival at R.H. Dana Elementary School. Food, games, inflatable bounce houses and entertainment will round out the festivities. 24242 La Cresta Drive, Dana Point, www.rhdanapta.org.
Saturday | 21 CLASSY TREASURES SALE 7 a.m. The Sand Dollar Guild of Dana Point is hosting an “upscale garage sale” to raise money for the Ocean Institute. Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, 949.294.8193.
Sunday | 22 HOUSE OF DESIGN TOUR 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tour a 7,500-square-foot home in the Dana Point Headlands that deigners have transformed into a Mediterranean masterpiece with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Proceeds help fund music programs for area youth. Tickets $40 to $50. Tour runs daily through Sunday, June 29. Closed Mondays. Free parking at Strand Vista Park. Shuttle runs every 10 minutes. Selva Road at Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 714.840.7542, www.philharmonicsociety.org. For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com. Have an event? Send your listing to events@ thecapistranodispatch.com www.thecapistranodispatch.com
SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
GUEST OPINION: Old San Juan by Don Tryon
A Street That’s Not a Street A small discrete downtown street bears the name of one of San Juan’s earliest and controversial leaders
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ightly nestled between two buildings is a little walkway that’s designated as a street. It’s so small that you could almost stretch your arms and touch both the RokPrime Steakhouse and Capistrano Trading Post are located. It’s a great shortcut from Camino Capistrano to the depot parking lot. This street is named for one of our historical personages of long ago, a person the residents of the time were pleased to see disappear. This street’s name is Arguello Way. In 1838, Juan Bautista Alvarado, the Mexican Governor, appointed Santiago Arguello to administer the Mission and surrounding lands after they were secularized by the Mexican government. Our town became known as Pueblo San Juan de Arguello. He was remembered by the townspeople as a brave—but less than courageous—young officer in the handling of the pirate raid led by Hippolyte Bouchard in 1818. After that incident, he rose through the military ranks and was honored by the appointment. Arguello was to be paid $1,000 annually for his services, plus the support of his wife, 22 children and numerous relatives. The money would have been obtained through a sort of taxation on the Mission neophyte Indians in the form of goods or labor. This privilege was abused when he used the Indians to cultivate his fields and put his brand on the best horses he purchased with the Mission brandy. The Indians were impoverished enough without this added burden as this all had to be
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paid before they could enjoy the fruits of their labor for themselves. They appealed to the Governor, who sent an investigator, but he found no fault. As a result, many Indians began to OLD SAN JUAN move away, which only By Don Tryon put a heavier burden on those who remained. After a few years, Arguello, tired of all the complaints and lack of appreciation for his efforts, packed up his family and moved away. The town’s name “de Arguello” was quickly abandoned. All that remains as a tribute to this once shining star of privilege is this small alley called Arguello Way. I often wonder how well the song “When the swallows come back to Arguello” would have fared. There’s a new book out, a novel called The Memory Keeper by Larry K. and Lorna Collins. It’s a tale of how the Juaneño Indians fared during Arguello’s reign—a lot of true facts interwoven with a delightful tale about a family and others lived here during this time. I believe the Mission Gift Shop may have it by now. Good reading. Don Tryon is a 25-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. He is currently the vice president and archivist for the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com
www.thecapistranodispatch.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE AT WWW.THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM
FOR SALE KING SIZE PILLOWTOP MATTRESS - NEW $250 Still factory sealed in the MFRs original plastic bag. Not refurbished, never used. Need to sell ASAP! 949-842-9994 EXERCISE BIKE Black Schwinn #125 used once. Asking $150. Original Receipt Available. 949-463-5268 MUSIC STM-30 Chromatic Metronome used once. Asking $25, 949-463-5268.
PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE
MUSCLE STIMULATOR LG TEC Elite Digital Dual COMBO TENS Unit and muscle - 4 Electrodes and cords Stimulator (AC) Adapter, and Carrying Case. Asking $75. Original Receipt available 949-463-5268
Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com
GARAGE SALES SEA CANYON COMMUNITY IS HAVING IT’S THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE. Saturday June 14th, from 8:00 am-1:00 pm. Cross streets are Golden Lantern and Acapulco. Merchandise includes toys, books, furniture, clothing and electronics. Sponsored by Leilani Serrao-Baker Realtor, Windermere So Cal BRE 01908226. 949-444-9175
HELP WANTED 60 year old San Clemente appliances & electronics Co. hiring delivery and installation personnel. Clean driving record required. Good pay and benefits: Call Alex at 949-2895794 or email at sales@shopdeweys.com
LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING
Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 27126 Paseo Espada, Suite 1604, 949.420.1321, www.oasisair.com
BANKING
Independence Bank
32291 Camino Capistrano, Suite A, 949.373.8963, www.independence-bank.net
EDIBLE LANDSCAPING
Organics Out Back
949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com
ELECTRICIANS
After-Hours Electric
Ca Lic #697355 714.396.2188, 949.573.8386, www.bbb.org The Capistrano Dispatch June 13–26, 2014
Excel Electric
32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, 949.493.7769, www.excelelectric.com
ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS
Excel Electric - CA #793860
32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, 949.493.7769, www.excelelectric.com
HOME ORGANIZATION
Karen Fischer, Professional Organizer, Get Organized and Move! 949.355.3487, www.getorganizedandmove.com
MOLD REMOVAL
Jarvis Restoration
31942 Paseo Sagrado, 949.362.5388, www.jarvisrestoration.com
PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB
San Juan Photo & Digital
32301 Camino Capistrano, 949.661.5668, www.sjcphotodigital. com
PLUMBING
Chick’s Plumbing
949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing. com
JEWELER
Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design
32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, 949.493.3632, www.abbysdesigns.com
ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B, 949.212.0499
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SCHOOLS
Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 32032 Del Obispo Street, 949.493.5683, www.cvcs.org
TILE & STONE INSTALLATION/ RESTORATION
Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc.
714.757.3490, CA License #789312 www.yorbalindatilemarble.com
WATER DAMAGE
Jarvis Restoration
31942 Paseo Sagrado, 949.362.5388, www.jarvisrestoration.com
WOMEN’S CLOTHING & HANDBAG BOUTIQUE
Dress Well Boutique
33712 Calle Miramar, 949.922.8044, www.DressWellBoutique.com
LIST LOCALS ONLY
USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year. View online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com
www.thecapistranodispatch.com
SJC LIVING
Friends of the Library Unveil New Bookstore
Guests take their first walk through the Reata Park and Event Center. The Friends of the Library and their supporters are joyous after cutting the ribbon to their new bookstore.
Reata Park Debuts in San Juan Capistrano STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN PARK, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
Jacque Nunez, a member of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, performs a blessing ritual for the new bookstore.
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Mayor Sam Allevato and Friends of the Library President Mary DeMers embrace after Allevato congratulated the group for their new bookstore.
Rev. Msgr. Arthur Holquin, from Mission San Juan Capistrano, tours the new bookstore. STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN PARK, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
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fter nearly a decade of planning and fundraising, and just over six months of construction and furnishing, the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library have their new bookstore. The Friends, the all-volunteer group that supports the San Juan Capistrano Library, gathered with their own friends and city officials on Sunday, June 1 for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for their new store, simply called “The Bookstore.” “This town has the most tremendous volunteerism spirit of any town I’ve ever lived in,” said Mary DeMers, president of the organization. “We are dedicating this bookstore to you, the residents of San Juan, for good learning and good reading.” The bookstore was relocated from its The Capistrano Dispatch June 13-26, 2014
original location in the back of the library to the former Bland Garden, fronting El Camino Real. The store was designed by Planning Commissioner Roy Nunn and received the approval of renowned architect Michael Graves, who designed the library. Graves’ design was recognized by the American Institute of Architects and Newsweek magazine called the library “the first authentic postmodern masterpiece.” “The church is right here and it nourishes the soul. Now we have the beautiful bookstore here and that will nourish the minds of so many people,” Mayor Sam Allevato said. Following the ceremony, the Friends held their 30th anniversary Pearl Jubilee Gala and Concert fundraiser. The Saddleback Big Band, a 17-piece orchestra, performed for guests. CD
undreds gathered Saturday, May 31 for a dedication ceremony and to take their first walk through Reata Park and Event Center. The 12-acre park, located at 28632 Ortega Highway in the city’s eastern territory, features ample recreational space, an equestrian staging area, space for weddings and group events, a network of paths and trails and a restored historic home that will serve as a welcome center. The nonprofit San Juan Capistrano Open Space Foundation built and funded the park. For over a year, volunteers spent nearly every weekend building fences and park benches, planting trees and flora and clearing paths, all for the citizens of San Juan Capistrano. “You own all this. This is yours,” said Dick Paulsen, the foundation’s vice president. “Over 7,000 hours were put in to build this park … We loved building this park. All of our families will enjoy this for generations to come.” The park also features more than 2,000
Dick Paulsen, vice president of the San Juan Capistrano Open Space Foundation, displays the city’s proclamation officially dedicating the Reata Park and Event Center.
native plants, made up of around 240 different species, making it the first and only large native plant park in Southern California, according to Mike Evans, owner of Tree of Life Nursery, which provided the plants. “The story of Reata Park is one of a big vision becoming a reality for public enjoyment,” Evans said. “Reata will serve as an example for homeowners and municipalities throughout Southern California … Some have said it’s the park of the future. We have it in San Juan Capistrano right now.” CD
Sudoku BY MYLES MELLOR
Solution:
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium
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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Eagles Soar to CIF-SS Title Behind Discenzo’s No-Hitter COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE
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The 14U Capo Girls Softball All-Star team will compete at the district championships on June 27. Courtesy photo
Capo Girls Softball All-Stars Continue Winning Ways THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
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he 14U All-Star Capo Girls Softball team is showing no signs of slowing down heading into postseason play. The team, which is made up of players from Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, currently owns a perfect 41-0 overall record, and picked up two tournament wins over the past week. The team captured the AGSA Foothill Classic Tournament in Arcadia on June 6, defeating an All-Star team from Sierra Madre in a 13-0 victory in the championship match. On June 8, the team bested the field at the French Valley Wine Country Classic, going 4-0 over the two-day span. In 18 All-Star games this season, the
Capo Girls Softball team has outscored their opponents by a combined 238-44 margin. The team will play in one final tournament before heading to the district championships in Garden Grove from June 27-29. If the team advances through the district tournament, they will qualify to compete for the state championship. The 14U All-Star Capo Girls Softball team includes: Regan Salas, Mariah Bohl, Nicole Arico, Elibeth Flores, Alexis White, Catherine Norby, Grace Collier, Riley Dungan, Claire Steines, Kyra Massucco, Angelica Gonzalez, Caitlyn Sung, Taylor Hopper, Alyssa Peterson and Alyson Salas. The team is coached by Dan Massucco and Cris Salas. CD
sparkling no-hit effort on the mound from junior starting pitcher AJ Discenzo was exactly what the Capistrano Valley Christian baseball team needed to finally achieve a goal that had eluded them the past two seasons. Discenzo struck out five Sierra Canyon batters over seven innings on June 7 en route to a no-hitter and a 5-0 victory that sealed the CIF-SS Division 6 Championship for the Eagles. Capistrano Valley Christian has been to the Division 6 championship game each of the past three years. This year was a different story. The Eagles got on the board for the first time in the third inning on an RBI double from senior Parker Coss. It the fi fth inning, following RBI hits from Eric Fukuda and Brooks Dugan, the Eagles were able to build a comfortable 4-0 lead. The Eagles’ road to the title game featured a rematch with Desert Christian Academy, the team that defeated them in the 2013 finals, in the quarterfinals on May 30. Capistrano Valley Christian pounced on the
Conquerors early, putting up 10 runs in the first two innings to breeze to an 11-6 win. A tough preseason schedule helped bolster the Eagles confidence for another postseason run, according to head coach Clemente Bonilla. Capistrano Valley Christian played against higher division squads like Tesoro, Beckman and Harvard-Westlake before going 8-1 in the San Joaquin League. IN OTHER HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFF NEWS: JSerra, the No.1 seed in the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships, advanced to the semifinals, where they lost to Foothill 4-1. The Lions, who captured the Trinity League title this season, defeated Brea Olinda, Valencia and Edison in the first, second and quarterfinal rounds, respectively. St. Margaret’s defeated Saddleback Valley Christian, 9-0, in the opening round of the Division 6 Championships. The Tartans went on to beat Upland Christian in the second round before falling to PolyPasadena in the quarterfinals. CD
Football Roundup: Passing League Season Underway BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH
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t’s that time of year when high school football teams begin to take shape and test their skill against regional opponents in passing league tournaments. JSerra Catholic has already got off to a hot start to their summer schedule and San Juan Hills High School will host the Lions, and others, in their own Gunslinger passing tournament this weekend. JSerra maintained their fall momentum by winning the Air Strike passing tournament at Dana Hills High School on May 31. The Lions bested the field of 16, edging out Upland 19-13 in the tournament finals. It was the Lions’ debut in the Air Strike tournament. The Air Strike tournament is one of the more high-profile events of the offseason. This year’s tournament featured Corona del Mar, Edison and Alemany along with The Capistrano Dispatch June 13–26, 2014
Trinity League team’s Servite and Orange Lutheran. San Juan Hills faced off against the Lions in the first round of the Air Strike championship bracket and lost 26-12. The Stallions will host their Gunslinger passing tournament on campus Saturday, June 14. The tournament has raised its profile since last season, as the 2014 edition of the tournament now features five Pac-5 Division teams: JSerra, Oaks Christian, Mater Dei, Loyola and Westlake. Canyon and Tustin are also set to compete. San Juan Hills will have to get used to competing against top-level talent, as they make the move from the Sea View League to the South Coast League next fall. The Stallions will open the tournament with a game against Mater Dei on Field 2 at 9 a.m. JSerra will play Canyon on Field 1 at 9 a.m. CD
The San Juan Hills girls golf team was named their sports CIF State 2013-2014 Academic Team Champion on June 11. Courtesy photo
Stallions Earn Top State Academic Team Honors COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE
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n June 11, the San Juan Hills girls golf team joined 30 other high school sports programs that were named CIF State 2013-2014 Academic Team Champions. The CIF State Academic Team Champions program bestows the honor on one team from each sport, boys and girls, based on the highest collective grade-point-average. The Stallions won the program’s first ever Sea View League championship in the fall and were the recipients of the CIFSS Academic Championship award. They
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were presented with a CIF-SS banner on the field at Angels Stadium on April 29. The Stallions will also receive a banner for their CIF State honor. The Stallions’ collective GPA, based on an unweighted 4.0 scale, was 3.88. Here is a list of the San Juan Hills girls golf players, along with their respective GPA: Tatyana Arciniega (3.8), Haley Heesch (3.83), Emily Lichty (4.0), Caroline Miranda (3.83), Julianne HooitesMeursing (3.67), Kaitlin Herron (4.0) and Makenna Kjellberg (4.0). CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com